Dinghy stowing support



Nov. 9, 1965 J. B. SMITH DINGHY STOWING SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed001'.- 3, 1965 INVENTOR. JUH/Y 5 577/777 Nov. 9, 1965 J. B. SMITH3,216,388

DINGHY STOWING SUPPORT Filed 001;. 3, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.JOHN 3 577 7 4 ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 3,216,388 DINGHY ST OWINGSUPPORT John B. Smith, 632 Pembroke St, Victoria, British Columbia,Canada Filed Oct. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 313,518 5 Claims. (Cl. 11443.5)

This invention relates to a support by which a dinghy can be supportedin stowed condition and more particularly to such a support which ismounted on a step projecting aft from the transom of a cruiser so thatthe length of the dinghy in stowed position will extend transversely ofthe length of the cruiser.

It has been customary to stow a dinghy on its side on a step or shelfprojecting aft from the transom of a cruiser, but it has been difiicultto secure such a dinghy in place reliably, and particularly in somewhatrough water it has been difiicult to hoist the dinghy safely onto such astep. Either in launching or in mooring a dinghy preparatory to stowingit it has also been difiicult to hold the dinghy in proper relationshipto the step without the dinghy striking the step or the step Strikingthe dinghy undesirably in rough water, and it has also been a problem tomaintain the desired relationship between the dinghy and the step whilea person is stepping from such a step into the dinghy, or from thedinghy onto the step.

It is a princapl object of the present invention to provide a dinghysupport which will couple the dinghy securely and in definiterelationship to the step of a cruiser without restricting the relativemovements of the dinghy and the cruiser to an undesirable degree, sothat a person can board the dinghy or disembark from the dinghy easily,and the launching and stowing of the dinghy will be facilitated.

A further object is to provide a combined dinghy mooring and supportstructure which can be engaged with and disengaged from the dinghyquickly and easily. More specifically, it is an object to connect thedinghy and the cruiser step at two locations spaced lengthwise of thedinghy so as to preevnt yawing of the dinghy relative to the step whileallowing the dinghy to roll relative to the step and to be tiltedbetween stowed position and moored position, either during lauching orstowing of the dinghy.

Another object is to provide a dinghy support and mooring structureincluding two elements which can be attached to the dinghy independentlyof each other and will therefore enable separate manipulation of theattaching elements.

Another object is to provide such a dinghy mooring and support structurewhich is easy to install on the cruiser step and on the dinghy, iscompact, is not objectionably in the way, and which can be retracted tolie in superposed registry with the step when not attached to a dinghy.

A further object is to provide a support for a dinghy in stowed positionhaving adequate strength to carry the weight of the dinghy, which willhold the dinghy in a desirable attitude when stowed, and which willprevent the dinghy from washing off or working oil? the step when thecruiser is underway, with the dinghy in stowed condition.

The dinghy support includes two brackets secured to the step projectingaft from the transom of a cruiser in positions spaced apart transverselyof the cruiser. On the gunwale of a dinghy are mounted two fittingsspaced lengthwise of the dinghy a distance corresponding to the spacingof the brackets and which are engageable by the ends of the bracketsprojecting aft beyond the trailing edge of the step. The portions of thebrackets secured to the dinghy fittings are pivoted relative to thebracket arms about horizontal axes to enable the dinghy to be swungrelative to the step. Preferably each bracket also is pivotally mountedto swing about an upright axis 3,216,388 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 between aposition in which the arm of the bracket extends fore and aft with itsaft end projecting beyond the trailing edge of the step and a positionin which the bracket arm is in registry with the step and does notproject beyond its edge.

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective of the stern portion of a cruiser and adinghy behind it, showing the dinghy support installation in which thedinghy is moored to the cruiser step by the dinghy support structure.

FIGURE 2 is a plan of one bracket of the dinghy support shown attachedto a dinghy fitting; FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of such bracket andfitting; and FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of the bracket and fitting.

FIGURE 5 is a top perspective of a support bracket, the bracket mountand the dinghy fitting, showing parts in exploded relationship.

FIGURE 6 is an elevation of the stern portion of the cruiser side andthe stern of a dinghy with the dinghy support in side elevation mooringthe dinghy to the cruiser step, and FIGURE 7 is a similar view with thedinghy uptilted into stowed position supported from the step.

FIGURE 8 is a plan of a dinghy support bracket in inoperative positionoverlying the step.

FIGURE 9 is a bottom perspective of a dinghy support bracket mountedbeneath a cruiser step, and FIG- URE 10 is a side elevation of suchsupport bracket with parts broken away.

The stern portion 1 of a cruiser shown in FIGURES 1, 6 and 7 is intendedto be merely representative of a typical stern portion of a cruiserwhich may be from twenty feet to sixty feet in length ordinarily. Thewidth of the transom 2 of such a cruiser is from six to twelve feet, andsuch transom usually is flat or nearly flat. The transom is shown inFIGURES 6 and 7 as having a slight curvature. A step or shelf 13customarily is provided projecting rearwardly from such a transom ashort distance above the water to enable a person to board a dinghy fromthe cruiser or disembark from a dinghy to the cruiser easily by steppingon the step between the cruiser and the dinghy. Consequently, the heightof the step above the Water When the cruiser is not underway isapproximately equal to the height of the dinghy freeboard. In general,the length of the dinghy should not appreciably exceed the Width of thetransom, and a longer dinghy usually has somewhat greater freeboard thana shorter dinghy. Consequently, on larger cruisers the height of thestep above the water is usually somewhat greater than the step onsmaller cruisers.

Stowing a dinghy on its side on the step of a cruiser presents twoprincipal problems: first, the problem of handling the dinghy, ofplacing it on the step conveniently during a stowing operation, andremoving the dinghy from the step during the launching operation; andsecond, the problem of holding the dinghy in place in stowed position onthe step during pitching and rolling of the cruiser in rough weather.Both of these problems are solved satisfactorily by use of the stowingsupport of the present invention, and, in addition, the dinghy can bemoored securely to the step by the same mechanism While it is beingloaded, or while people are boarding or disembarking from the dinghy.These results are accomplished by attaching the dinghy positively to thestep by the support mechanism at locations spaced apart a substantialdistance lengthwise of the dinghy so that the dinghy Will be held withits length generally parallel to the transom 2 and the trailing edge ofthe step 3. The connections between the step and the dinghy areaccomplished by two separate brackets of similar construction, one beinga port bracket and the other a starboard bracket.

FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5 show the port bracket installation including thebracket arm having a relatively wide,

flat base portion 4 and a narrower shank 5 projecting from the baseportion. Cruiser transoms customarily have spaced series of slotsthrough them as shown in FIGURE 1 with solid bands between the slotseries extending generally radially of the transom curvature. It isdesirable for the port bracket to be mounted in the unslotted bands ofthe step, and consequently where the transom and step are curvedsomewhat it is desirable for the base portion and shank portion of thesupport bracket arms to be angled somewhat as shown in FIGURE 2, so thatin operative position the base portion of the arm will be aligned withan unslotted band of the step, and the shank 5 of the bracket arm willextend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cruiser. The base andshank portions of the starboard bracket arm will be angledcorrespondingly in the opposite direction so that when the base portionsof the port bracket and the starboard bracket are centered in unslottedportions of the step, their shanks 5 will be in parallel relationship.If the transom of the cruiser is flat and the trailing edge of the stepis straight, the bracket arms 4 and 5 can be in straight alignmentinstead of being at an angle relative to each other. The other portionsof the bracket will be the same.

The aft end of the bracket arm shank 5 is bifurcated to form a clevis 6which straddles the lug 7 of a connecting plug 8 pivotally connected tothe arm clevis by the pivot pin 9 extending through aligned apertures inthe clevis and lug. Preferably, as shown in FIGURE 5, the lug 7 has aprotruding corner engageable with the clevis slot, constituting a stoplimiting downward swinging of the plug relative to the arm in thesubstantially horizontal position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The oppositecorner of the lug is rounded generally concentrically of thepivot-receiving aperture so that the plug can swing upward fromapproximately horizontal through an angle of at least 100 from theposition shown in full lines in FIGURE 6 to the position of FIGURE 7.The end of the plug 8 has in it a slot 8' receiving a toggle 10, whichis pivotally mounted in the slot by the pivot pin 11.

The dinghy 12 shown in FIGURES 1, 6 and 7 is merely representative,although it is preferred that the gunwales be substantially straightamidships. Such dinghys frequently are made of molded polyester resinreinforced with glass fiber mat or glass fiber cloth, but they may beconstructed of aluminum, plywood or wood planking. On one gunwale of thedinghy, and preferably the port gunwale, are mounted fittings engageablewith the bracket arm plugs 8 respectively. Each of these fittingsprovides a socket member including a cylindrical socket tube 13 integralwith a mounting plate 14, which can be secured by screws 15 to thegunwale of the dinghy with the axis of the cylindrical socket upright.The cylindrical shank 16 of a swivel fitting is received in this socket,and such fitting has a flange 17 at the base of the shank to limit itsmovement into the socket 13. A cotter key 18 extending through a hole inthe shank 16 at the end of the socket 13 opposite that engaged by theflange 17 prevents removal of the shank from the socket withoutinterfering with its swivel action.

At the opposite side of the flange from the shank the fitting has a lugend 19 in which is a cylindrical aperture 20 of a size to receiveloosely the plug 8 of the bracket arm. Lug 19 is sufficiently thin sothat when the plug 8 is moved fully into the aperture 20 the toggle candrop from a position aligned with the slot 8' into the latching positionshown in FIGURE 3, so that the plug and the lug 19 will be held inconnected relationship against inadvertent displacement. These elementscan be disconnected readily, however, simply by swinging the toggle 10up into alignment with the plug so that the plug can be withdrawn fromthe aperture 20. The loose fit between the plug and such apertureenables a reasonable amount of relative tilting between the plug 8 andlug 19 without subjecting the parts to substantial stress.

In use the dinghy 12 can be brought alongside the step 3 into theposition shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, and the dinghy gunwale can then bemoved toward the trailing edge of the step 3 to insert first one plug 8and then the other plug through the aperture 20 of the correspondingdinghy fitting lug 19, with the toggles 10 in alignment with the plugslots 8'. When the toggles are re leased to the positions shown inFIGURES 1 and 3, the dinghy will be moored securely to the step,although the dinghy may roll relative to the step as the cruiser pitchesand rolls with waves passing under it. It is desirable for the dinghy tobe thus attached to the cruiser step while the cruiser is directedbow-on to any waves which there may be; Passengers may then convenientlydisembark from the dinghy onto the step 3 and the dinghy may beunloaded.

T o stow the dinghy a line 21 is attached to an oarlock socket or otherfixture on the gunwale of the dinghy, opposite that carrying the dinghysupport fittings, and such line can then be pulled inboard to swing thedinghy from the solid line position shown in FIGURE 6, through thebroken line position of that figure into the position shown in FIGURE 7.The line 21 can then be suitably secured to hold the dinghy from tiltingback into the water, or the upper side of the dinghy may be otherwisesuitably secured. In the position of FIGURE 7 the dinghy is supported bythe bracket arms and the gunwale is held spaced from the cruiser transomsufficiently far so that the dinghy is tilted into a position in whichit tends to remain even if the upper side is not secured in any way. Tolaunch the dinghy it is merely necessary to push the upper side awayfrom the transom and pay out the line 21 to lower the dinghy through thebroken line position of FIGURE 6 into the solid line position. When thedinghy is loaded, the toggles 10 can simply be swung upward intoalignment with the slots 8' and the dinghy pushed away from the step 3to withdraw the plugs 8 from the fitting apertures 20 to free thedinghy.

While the dinghy is in use the cotter pins 18 can be removed from thefitting shanks 16 so that these swivel fittings can be removed from thegunwale of the dinghy, but such fittings do not project above thegunwale sufficiently to be objectionable ordinarily, and consequently,such fittings usually would remain anchored to the dinghy gunwale at alltimes. If the rearward projection of the bracket arms should beobjectionable, or if it should be desired to protect them from beingdamaged by an object alongside the step of the cruiser, such bracketarms can be retracted into position in registry with the step 3. Forthis purpose the base portions 4 of the bracket arms can be mounted toswing around the axis of the pivot mounting bolt 22, which, as shownbest in FIGURE 3, extends through the base portion 4 of the bracket armand the step 3. The bracket arm can thus be swung from the operativefore and aft position shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 into the inoperative,retracted athwartships position shown in FIGURE 8. The bolt 22 can besecured by lock nuts 23 to enable the arm to swing in this manner.

In order to provide a firm bearing for the arm 4, 5 when it is in itsoperative position and also to prevent wearing of the step 3 by swingingof the bracket arm, a Wear plate 24 may be mounted on the step betweenthe bracket arm and the adjacent surface of the step. This wear platehas an aperture 25 near one end through which the bolt 22 ex tends. Itis desirable to be able to latch the bracket arm in its operativeposition, and it may also be desirable to latch the bracket arm in itsretracted, inoperative position of FIGURE 8. For this purpose thebracket arm has in it an aperture 26 spaced from and extending parallelto the aperture 22' through which the pivot bolt 22 extends. Also, thewear plate 24 has in it an aperture 27 spaced from its aperture 25 adistance equal to the spacing of the bracket arm apertures 22' and 26.Consequently, the apertures 26 and 27 will be aligned when the bracketarm is in its fore-and-aft operative position shown in FIGURE 2. Theseapertures can be held in such aligned registry by inserting through thema latch pin 28 which preferably has a bent end 29 to facilitate itsplacement and removal. This latch pin should have a reasonably snug fitin the apertures 26 and 27, but need not be secured in place.

When the latch pin 28 is withdrawn from the apertures 26 and 27, thebracket arm 4, 5 can be swung readily about the pivot bolt 22. Anaperture corresponding to aperture 27 can, if desired, be provided inthe step at a location spaced approximately 90 from the aperture 27 inthe wear plate to enable the latch pin to be inserted through thebracket arm aperture 26 and such other aperture for holding the bracketarm in the retracted position shown in FIGURE 8. Otherwise, the latchpin can simply be inserted directly into the wear plate aperture 27 as aconvenient place for storing it, as shown in FIGURE 8, until the bracketarm is to be swung again into its operative position.

In a case where the step 3 is higher than desirable to engage a fittingon the gunwale of the dinghy 12, the bracket can be mounted on theunderside of the step instead of above it, as described in connectionwith FIGURES 1 to 7, inclusive. Such an alternative type of bracketmounting is shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. The bracket arm 4, 5 used forthis installation can be the same as the bracket arm previouslydescribed, and the dinghy fitting and plug 8 also Will be the same. Theonly difference is that in assembling the bracket its arm will beinverted in the manner shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. If such a bracket armis to be swingable into a retracted position, it is preferred that thepivot bolt 22" extend through a hole in the bracket arm base 4 which islocated closer to the shank 5, as shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. Again, suchbolt can be secured in place by lock nuts 23'.

In this instance also the wear plate 24 is mounted on the surface of thestep adjacent to the bracket arm, which in this instance will be theunderside of the step. The bracket arm can be secured in its operativefore-and-aft position by the latch pin 28, which now extends through thestep 3 first and then through the wear plate and bracket arm. By placingthe pivot bolt 22" closer to the shank 5 of the bracket arm, the endportion of the base 4 remote from the bracket arm shank will bearagainst the wear plate so as to provide a mounting having betterstress-resisting characteristics than if the pivot bolt were mountedadjacent to the end of the base 4 remote from the shank 5. When it isdesired to swing the bracket arm into its retracted position, the latchpin 28 can be pulled out by grasping its bent end 29, after which thebracket arm can be swung through approximately 90 into registry with thestep 3. The latch pin can be stored by replacing it in the same aperturein the step.

The plug 8 of this bracket will normally be held substantially inhorizontal position as described previously,

and can be connected to and disconnected from the lug 19 of the dinghyfitting as also described above. The operation of mooring the dinghy,stowing it and locking it by the use of this bracket is the same asalready described, so that this explanation need not be repeated.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dinghy stowing support for a cruiser transom step comprising aplurality of separate elongated bracket arms, pivot means securing saidbracket arms respectively to the transom step spaced athwartships forindependent swinging independent about upright axes between operativepositions in which their lengths extend generally fore and aft andretracted positions in which their lengths extend generallyathwartships, independent first attachment elements one for each of saidbrackets, pivot means separately mounting said first attachment elementsrespectively on said bracket arms for swinging of each attachmentelement about a horizontal athwartships axis relative to its bracketarm, when such bracket arm is in its fore and aft position, between aposition projecting aft from its bracket arm and an upwardly swungposition, and second attachment elements secured to the gunwale of thedinghy and engageable respectively with said first attachment elementswhen said bracket arms are in their generally fore and aft positions forswinging upwardly with said first attachment elements and with suchdinghy gunwale as the dinghy is tilted on its side into stowed position.

2. A dinghy stowing support for a cruiser transom step comprising aplurality of separate elongated bracket arms, pivot means securing saidbracket arms respectively to the upper side of the transom step spacedathwartships for independent swinging about upright axes betweenoperative positions in which their lengths extend generally fore and aftand retracted positions in which their lengths extend generallyathwartships, independent first attachment elements one for each of saidbrackets, pivot means separately mounting said first attachment elementsrespectively on said bracket arms for swinging of each attachmentelement about a horizontal athwartships axis relative to its bracketarm, when such bracket arm is in its fore and aft position, between aposition projecting aft from its bracket arm and an upwardly swungposition, and second attachment elements secured to the gunwale of thedinghy and engageable respectively with said first attachment elementswhen said bracket arms are in their generally fore and aft positions forswinging upwardly with said first attachment elements and with suchdinghy gunwale as the dinghy is tilted on its side into stowed position.

3. A dinghy stowing support for a cruiser transom step comprising aplurality of separate elongated bracket arms, pivot means securing saidbracket arms respectively to the underside of the transom step spacedathwartships for independent swinging about upright axes spaced asubstantial distance from opposite ends of said bracket arms betweenoperative positions in which their lengths extend generally fore and aftand retracted positions in which their lengths extend generallyathwartships, independent first attachment elements one for each of saidbrackets, pivot means separately mounting said first attachment elementsrespectively on said bracket arms for swinging of each attachmentelement about a horizontal athwartships relative to its bracket arm,when such bracket arm is in its fore and aft position, between aposition projecting aft from its bracket arm and an upwardly swungposition, and second attachment elements secured to the gunwale of thedinghy and engageable respectively with said first attachment elementswhen said bracket arms are in their generally fore and aft positions forswinging upwardly with said first attachment elements and with suchdinghy gunwale as the dinghy is tilted on its side into stowed position.

4. A dinghy stowing support for a cruiser transom step comprising aplurality of brackets secured to the transom step spaced athwartships,independent first attachment elements one for each of said brackets,pivot means separately mounting said first attachment elementsrespectively on said brackets for swinging of each attachment elementabout a horizontal athwartships axis relative to its bracket between aposition projecting aft from its bracket and an upwardly swung position,second attachment elements secured to the gunwale of the dinghy, andswivel joint means closely coupled with said pivot means and connectingsaid second attachment elements respectively with said first attachmentelements for swinging upward therewith and with such dinghy gunwale asthe dinghy is tilted on its side into stowed position.

5. A dinghy stowing support for a cruiser transom comprising a pluralityof bracket arms extending fore and aft and supported from the transomspaced athwartships, independent first elements, one for each of saidbracket arms, pivot means separately mounting said first elementsrespectively on said bracket arms for swinging of each first elementabout a horizontal athwartships axis relative to its bracket arm betweena position extending aft from its bracket arm and an upwardly swungposition, second elements secured to the gunwale of the dinghy, andengageable projection and socket elements carried by said first andsecond elements, forming swivel joint means closely coupled with saidpivot means and connecting said first and second elements for swingingupward relative to said bracket arms with such dinghy gunwale as thedinghy is tilted on its side into stowed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,094,610 4/14Steinhauer 93O X 2,294,864 9/42 Palmer 9-30 2,473,557 6/49 Woodruff 93 1X 3,143,991 8/64 Anderson 114-435 FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

1. A DINGHY STOWING SUPPORT FOR A CRUISER TRANSOM STEP COMPRISING APLURALITY OF SEPARATE ELONGATED BRACKET ARMS, PIVOT MEANS SECURING SAIDBRACKET ARMS RESPECTIVELY TO THE TRANSOM STEP SPACED ATHWARTSHIPS FORINDEPENDENT SWINGING INDEPENDENT ABOUT UPRIGHT AXES BETWEEN OPERATIVEPOSITIONS IN WHICH THEIR LENGTHS EXTEND GENERALLY FORE AND AFT ANDRETRACTED POSITIONS IN WHICH THEIR LENGTHS EXTEND GENERALLYATHWARTSHIPS, INDEPENDENT FIRST ATTACHMENT ELEMENTS ONE FOR EACH OF SAIDBRACKETS, PIVOT MEANS SEPARATELY MOUNTING SAID FIRST ATTACHMENT ELEMENTSRESPECTIVELY ON SAID BRACKET ARMS FOR SWINGING OF EACH ATTACHMENTELEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL ATHWARTSHIPS AXIS RELATIVE TO ITS BRACKETARM, WHEN SUCH BRACKET ARM IS IN ITS FORE AND AFT POSITION, BETWEEN APOSITION PROJECTING AFT FROM ITS BRACKET ARM AND AN UPWARDLY SWUNGPOSITION, AND SECOND ATTACHMENT ELEMENTS SECURED TO THE GUNWALE OF THEDINGHY AND ENGAGEABLE RESPECTIVELY WITH SAID FIRST ATTACHMENT ELEMENTSWHEN SAID BRACKET ARMS ARE IN THEIR GENERALLY FORE AND AFT POSITIONS FORSWINGING UPWARDLY WITH SAID FIRST ATTACHMENT ELEMENTS AND WITH SUCHDINGHY GUNWALE AS THE DINGHY IS TILTED ON ITS SIDE INTO STOWED POSITION.